I don’t know why but it seems like the summer is when all the scandalous police stories are brought to light. It sickens me to always have to report these stories but we must stay informed. This particular story makes me sick to my stomach. Brian Encinia, the officer that arrested Sandra Bland back in 2015 had the charges that were against him dropped. Encinia pulled over Bland for a failing to use a turn signal. Encinia used this as an excuse to arrest her and she was found hanging in her cell three days later. Sandra Bland did not have the $5,000 of bail money need to get her out of jail. Her death was controversially ruled a suicide.

More than a year ago a grand jury decided that Encinia lied when he documented that he removed Sandra Bland from her car to conduct a safer traffic investigation. The dashcam footage directly contradicted his claims, as he threatened to yank Sandra bland out of the car and also taze her. He also threatened to “light her up” if she didn’t answer to his command of putting out her cigarette and get out of the vehicle.   

The fact that these charges were dropped when there is footage and audio of what transpired is all too typical. Sandra Bland’s family settled for $1.9 million with Walter County and the Texas Department of Public Safety in a wrongful death lawsuit. Still, justice is not served. A part of me wonders if it will ever be.

To read more about the case, visit the Chicago Tribune

Sources

1. Charges Dropped Against Only Officer to Face Criminal Charges Related to Sandra Bland’s Death, The Root
2. Charge dropped against trooper who arrested Sandra Bland before she died in Texas jail, Chicago Tribune